Rear loading screw-feed mechanical pencil



Sept. 23, 1947. H. A. BAUER l REAR LOADING SCREW-FEED MECHANICAL PENGIL Filed Nov. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l VENTOR.

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l' la/e905 sept. 23, 1947. H. A. BAUER REAR LOADING SCREW-FEED MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Nov. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l IN VEN TOR. @iQ/Qu U@ Cz. afwf,

Patented Sept. 2.3, 194'? REAR LOADING"SCREWFEED MECHANICAL PENCIL Hans A. Bauer, Prairie View, Ill., assignor to Autopoint Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,174

The present invention relates to mechanical pencils and especially to a novel construction of rear loading pencil.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of rear loading mechanical vpencil in which the barrel is provided with a non-removable tip but in which the tip is rotated or turned to advance or retract the lead.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of feed key which may be quickly advanced or retracted by rotation of the tip in the proper direction, and when retracted, is so constructed, arranged and assemlbled as to facilitate loading from the rear of the pencil.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel lead feeding mechanism for mechanical pencils so constructed and arranged as to feed several standard lengths of lead and thereby requiring less frequent loading of lead into the lead passage. y

Furtherv objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of Darts, features and constructions without` departing from the spirit of the invention.

- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross-section through the body of the pencil, but with the cap shown partly in side elevation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross-section showing the assembly of the feed key and it associated parts.

Figure 3 is a view in cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the novel feed key.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical cross-section taken in aY plane represented by the line 5-5 ofFigure 1.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the tilted position of the upper end of the key when it reaches the end of its upward travel, to uncover the lead passage and permit the insertion of a new supply of lead.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the barrel, tube, sleeve and feed key, parts thereof being broken away to more clearly show the relation o-f the-parts and 8 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-18) vthe tube being withdrawn slightly from the base of the lead chamber or magazine.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the tube and showing the offset for receiving the feed key.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in vertical cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 9 9 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the assembly shown in Fig. 7 but with the feed key retracted to its uppermost position.

Fig. 11 and l2 are cross-sectional views taken in planes represented by the lines I I-I I and I2-I2, respectively, of Fig. 8.

' Referring more particularly to the drawings and the novel embodiment therein selected to i1- lustrate the invention, the pencil I comprises a barrel 2 having its lower end reduced at Sto receive the tapered or conical part Il of a tip assembly 5. This tip assembly is locked or anchored to the barrel by means of a locking ring, collar or the like 6 and an adjacent sleeve 6a whereby the tip is not removable but is rotatable to permit turning or rotation thereof to advance or retract the lead. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the tip assembly 5 consists of the conical part ll which is preferably formed of a suitable plastic composition or the like and molded or otherwiseaiiixed to the rearwardly or upwardly projecting sleevelike extension I of a spring-tensioned tip 8 longitudinally slotted at the extreme end of the tip at 8a to provide spaced jaws that are expanded by the lead as it is fed therethrough. This permits effective feeding of the lead, yet holds it rigid during writing.

Mounted within the upper extension Il) of the barrel 2, which also is preferably formed of'a suitable plastic composition or the like, is a sleeve Il suitably affixed at its lower end in the barrel and its upper end extending therebeyond to form a chamber A for spare or eXtra leads. The chamber is preferably closed by an eraser I 2 and a cap I3 frictionally retained upon the sleeve II, the cap being readily removable for access to the eraser and both being removable for reloading the pencil or fo-r the insertion of additional leads. Centrally mounted within the barrel 2 is a slotted tube I4 extending downwardly into the tip assembly and having an oiset at one side thereof to provide longitudinally extending spaced flanges I5 forming a channel I5a for receiving a fiat feed key I6. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, the `channel I5a is closed by an overlapping part I'b from the upper end of the tube I4 to the :base B `of the lead magazine or chamber A andV against which the lower end of the part I5b abuts. This feed key is provided at one end with an extension or part I1 projecting 'into a convolution of a spiral slot I8 provided or formed in a sleeve I9, and an enlarged part or extension v2i) projecting through the slot and into the lead passage 2I in the sleeve for engaging or seating against the upper end of a lead 22. This feed key and tube I4 remain stationary or non-rotatable in the barrel, but, by ainxing or securing the lower end of the sleeve I9 in the tip, this sleeve rotates or is turned with the tip and relative to the barrel 2 and tube I4, whereby turning of the tip in one direction advances the feed key I6 and it in turn advances the lead. Turning the tip in the opposite direction, retracts the feed key and permits pushing back of the lead.

When the key reaches the limit of its forward movement, as when the extension or part II engages against the shoulder or end 23 of the xed tube I4, shown in dotted lines in Figure l, furtheradvance of the key is prevented. The tip is then turned in the opposite direction until the key reaches the position shown in Fig. l0, which is the limit of its rearward movement. In this extreme retracted position, the projecting `end or part 2i) leaves the spiral slot and leans or tilts to one side in the offset 25 as shown in Figure 6 to thereby uncover the lead passage 2I. Upon removal of the cap I3 and eraser I2, leads removed from the storage space or other available leads are then dropped into the` passage 2|, and upon turning the tip to advance the key and lead, the extension or part 20 is automatically returned to its operative position in the spiral slot or groove, it being understood that the end orfprojection II remains in the spiral slot. To insure against removal of the key, a stop 2 6 is preferably provided to thereby prevent the key from being completely withdrawn from the barrel.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it will be readily apparent that the present invention comprehends a `novel mechanical pencil of the rear loading type that is positive in operation, comprises a minimum number of operating parts, and contains a novel feed mechanism for actuating the lead.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a mechanical pencil, the combination of a barrel, a tip rotatably but non-removably mounted upon the barrel, a tube secured within the barrel and provided with a longitudinally extending offset, a lead-carrying sleeve rotatably mounted within the tube and provided with a spiral slot, means for connecting the sleeve to the tip, and a key carried within the offset and provided with spaced projections at its opposite ends projecting into the spiral slot whereby rotation of the tip relative to the barrel causes the key to move longitudinally in the slot, `one of said projections extending through the slot and into the sleeve for thereat engaging the upper ,end .of the lead and thereby advancing the lead in the sleeve.

2. In a mechanical pencil, the combination of a barrel, a non-removabletip rotatably mounted on the end of the barrel, a tube secured within the barrel, a lead-carrying sleeve rotatably mounted within the tube and secured to the itip, a spiral slot provided in the walls of the sleeve, and an elongated lead-feeding member carried within the tube and provided with spaced projections extending into the spiral slot with one of said projections extending through the slot to engage the upper end of and feed the Alead through the sleeve.

3. In a mechanical pencil Yof the rear loading type, a barrel, a tip rotatable with respect to the barrel, a lead-carrying sleeve. provided with a spiral slot and connected to the tip, a hollow member encompassing the sleeve and secured to the barrel whereby the tip and sleeve may be rotated relative to the hollow member and barrel, a lead-feeding member carried in the hollow member and provided with spaced projections extending radially into the spiral slot with one of the projections adapted to engage the upper end of the lead carried -in the sleeve for advancing the lead therethrough upon rotation of the tip in one direction, and when the tip is rotated in the other direction to retract the lead-feeding member to the limit of its rearward movement, the open end of the sleeve is uncovered to permit the insertion of additional lead.

4. In a mechanical pencil of the rear loading type, a barrel, a tip rotatable with respect to the barrel, a lead-carrying tubular member open at its lower `end for discharge of lead and at its upper end for the insertion of additional lead and connected to the tip for rotation therewith, a spiral slot provided in said member, a hollow member encompassing the tubular member and secured in the barrel against rotation, an elongated lead-feeding key carried in the hollow member and retained therein against rotation, Iand spaced projections on said key extending into the spiral slot in such manner that upon rotation of the tip the tubular member advances and retracts the key, one of said projections extending through the slot and into the tubular member for engaging the upper end of the lead and advancing the lead when the tip is rotated in one direction.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a. barrel, a tip nonremovably but rotatably mounted on the end of the barrel, a hollow member secured in the barrel against rotation and provided with a channel extending for the -ull length of the member, a lead-feeding member slidably mounted in the channel, a tubular lead-carrying member rotatably mounted in the hollow member and secured to the tip for rotation therewith, a spiral slot in Vsaid tubular member, Vspaced projections on the lead-,feeding member projecting into the slot with the upper of said projections extending into the tubular member for engaging the upper .end of the lead carried therein, a stop provided at the lower end of the hollow member for interrupting advance of the lead-feeding member, and an offset at the upper end of the hollow member so positioned and arranged that as the leadfeeding member is fully retracted upon rotating the tip, the upper projection thereon leaves the slot and moves to one side to permit the insertion of additional lead.

6. In a mechanicalpencil, means for feeding lead `therethrough comprising a lead carrying memberhaving a spiral slot, a tubular member encompassing the first mentioned member and provided with a longitudinally extending channel, and a feedV key longitudinally movable in the Achannel and provided with projecting ends extending into the spiral slot with one endA projecting therethrough for engaging and feeding lead through the pencil.

1- AIn a mechanical pencil, a lead-carrying sleeve having a spiral slot Aand ,open at its rear for the insertion of lead, ,a tubular member Vencompassing the slccvc and provided with a 10neitudinallr extending groove. an clcngatcd Iced feeding ,member carried in the erccve .and haw ing .its spaced ends YSeating Within the spiral Slot the tip, and a feed key carried in the groove of 10 said member and provided with projections seating within the spiral slot of the sleeve with one of the projections being of such length as to 6 extend through the slot and into the sleeve for engaging the upper end of the lead for advancing it through the sleeve.

e -HANS A. BAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lippert et a1 Mar. 22, 1927 Number 

